But once they leave the military, they once again have to find a job and this time it's on the homeland.

The U.S. Department of Energy is hoping to make the transition a little easier. A new training program in East Tennessee is preparing veterans to find advanced manufacturing jobs.

"Right now there are about 10 thousand active duty military members that are leaving the military every month," said Lonnie Love, group leader. "What we want to do is kind of tap off some of those that really have aptitude for manufacturing, give them some skills, and help them find great careers in the manufacturing industry."

"We have a number of different technologies so every day they would work on the machines, learn how they work, learn how to use them to their greatest potential and make themselves very marketable," said Love.

Participants learn to design for advanced manufacturing needs and are educated on 3D printers, fabrication techniques, and materials including titanium, carbon fiber, ABS plastics and other composites. The veterans said they have really taken a liking to additive manufacturing.

"They are right now trying to print a car," DeVore said. "Who in their wildest dreams would have thought you could three dimensionally print a car?"

The program will wrap up next week and instructors said some veterans have already received attention from possible employers. Trainers hope the program spreads across the country and helps as many veterans find jobs as possible.

The program is offered by the Energy Department's Advanced Manufacturing Office, ORAU, Pellissippi State Community College, and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.